Does anyone here actually make money as an artist?

[Esoteric]

Any full or part time artist here? Any freelancers?

If so, I'm wonderng how you got your start. Did you get a job straight out of school? Did you advertise your services via a website or business directory? Is it working for you?
I really would like to put my artistic talents to work, and I occasionally toy with thoughts of freelancing, but always doubt I could actually succeed. Suggestions anyone?

[rii namuras]

(I'm a freelancer. Seriously. Miss Mollie Cline and I are freelance artists - she does compostion, color design, and sometimes inspiration, and I draw it. We haven't had much business yet, since we're still setting it up, but we've entered a cover contest for teh wonderful Plethora, a NCFCA debates sourcebook, and came in second (won $25 and a free copy, which amounted to $40 total, since I normally would have just bought one), and we recently did a cover for GodlyPaladin's book.)

(We're going to set up advertising through the web - I've been managing websites since I was nine - once I get the server up, as well as through NCFCA speech and debate, church, ect. We're basically going to take commissions, and through CafePress, sell notebooks, prints, ect.)

(Both of us are still in high school, so we're not going to be able to spend as much time as we like, but we are making money off of it.)

[EireWolf]

I'm a freelance sculptor. I sell my one-of-a-kind sculptures on eBay. I'm not really making money yet, but I'm getting there.

I wouldn't have been able to do it this way if my husband didn't support me, to be totally honest. I have a degree (not in art), but I went back to school at a community college for a couple years to learn some skills and techniques. You can read the long, boring story here. I haven't made any money for a few years because I've been learning the ropes, but I hope to turn a profit this year. In my case it's a long process.

The bottom line is, if you're going to succeed in any art field, you have to have a lot of drive and self-motivation. As a freelancer, you have to put yourself out there and be willing to market yourself, because it's not likely that anyone else will do it for you. Depending on what kind of art you do, it also helps a lot to know people in the field who can point you in the right directions.

I do advertise on my web site, but that is not nearly enough. "If you build it, they will come" does not apply to web sites. I am also involved in a sculptors' and collectors' group on eBay; I do link exchanges; I am constantly looking for ways to get my work seen by as many people as possible. It's difficult, because you have to be a businessperson as well as an artist. Business is not something that comes naturally to me. I did take a Small Business class to get some idea of what I was doing. That helped a bit.

Good luck! Seek God, and make sure this is the way to go, because it's not an easy road. But it can be very rewarding if it's what you love.

[Esoteric]

(We're going to set up advertising through the web - I've been managing websites since I was nine - once I get the server up, as well as through NCFCA speech and debate, church, ect. We're basically going to take commissions, and through CafePress, sell notebooks, prints, ect.)

(Both of us are still in high school, so we're not going to be able to spend as much time as we like, but we are making money off of it.)

Whoa! Since nine? You've sooo got a jump on me! Well, at least you've got a start.

The bottom line is, if you're going to succeed in any art field, you have to have a lot of drive and self-motivation. As a freelancer, you have to put yourself out there and be willing to market yourself, because it's not likely that anyone else will do it for you. Depending on what kind of art you do, it also helps a lot to know people in the field who can point you in the right directions.

Yeah, that's definitely the bottom line. So far, I have been unwilling to take the leap. I'm not business minded, and I don't really have any friends who are that I could partner with. When I got out of school I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, but I majored in digital imaging. I lacked a good portfolio, motivation and contacts, so I couldn't get a job at a graphics place. I ended up working for my brother as a painter. But I know I don't want to do that for the rest of my life.
Everyone tells me I'm a great artist, and I've taken strides for the past few years to improve both the quantity and quality of my work. But I'm still not confident. I really like to do illustrations, but managing my own business and working directly for clients is a bit of a scary idea for a shy person like myself. I just don't know, but I need to do something soon.

[uc pseudonym]

As I know she won't have time to post, I'll put in a brief word for Psycho Ann. She works as an artist for Brethren Entertainment (http://www.brethren-et.com), a new Christian company. Anime conventions are also one place where I've seen some artists make a lot of money. Some people really like fanart.

[EireWolf]

I have something to add to my previous post. One of the things that gave me the drive and motivation to be a self-employed artist was -- working for other people for a while. Some people can do that and just shrug off the abuse that almost inevitably comes when working for a company that doesn't actually care about its employees. I am not one of those people. It's great if you find a company that cares, and an understanding boss, and I've had one of those before. But they seem to be very rare. So I guess you could say that one of the things that set me on my current path was having an evil boss with no ethics, concern only for herself and her sycophants, and no respect for a hard worker who wouldn't lick her boots. I decided to find a better person to work for, and eventually it ended up being me.

[Torokun]

I'm a working artist.

I got my first job out of school at a visual effects house/animation studio... back in 2001.

I also do freelance work for editorial and fashion industry...

Currently, I work for video game company...

[Esoteric]

I'm a working artist.

I got my first job out of school at a visual effects house/animation studio... back in 2001.

I also do freelance work for editorial and fashion industry...

Currently, I work for video game company...

Wow! That would explain your artistic talent...I just saw your Samus drawing in the art section and was seriously impressed. It take it you went to a high-end art school then?

So I guess you could say that one of the things that set me on my current path was having an evil boss with no ethics, concern only for herself and her sycophants, and no respect for a hard worker who wouldn't lick her boots. I decided to find a better person to work for, and eventually it ended up being me.

Hmm, yeah I suppose that would do it! Thankfully, I have a good boss, but it's the job I don't enjoy..I don't really hate it, it's just...blah.

[Sammy Boy]

Esoteric - have you tried volunteering? Sometimes that would provide an open door for you. Another way to get attention is to post your drawings on a website for people to view. You can also try drawing a short story and presenting it at comic / anime conventions where prospective employers sometimes lurk.

Also, keep an eye out for flyers at local comic shops. Sometimes they post news about openings with certain comic studios, and such.

Sorry I don't know anything about the advertisement scene, I just know about comics. I hope that helped.

[Esoteric]

Esoteric - have you tried volunteering? Sometimes that would provide an open door for you. Another way to get attention is to post your drawings on a website for people to view. You can also try drawing a short story and presenting it at comic / anime conventions where prospective employers sometimes lurk.

Hmm thanks, Ultra Magnus. I'm in the (slow) progress of building a portfolio website to get my artwork out there (wherever that is). But I didn't know amateurs could present thier own stuff at comic conventions (outside of japan). Is that common here?

[the_lizardqueen]

Wow. How did I miss this thread?

I've been wondering so many of the same things. In the fall I'll be headed into my third year as an Illustration Major, and I'm already beginning to get seriously apprehensive about the fact that I only have two years left before they throw me out the door into the real world.

It also doesn't help that my school seems to avoid practical stuff, like business practices and how to find work. I've had a few teachers that have offered advice on finding work and handling commissions, in addition to what they're supposed to be teaching us, but at this point it just seems like a jumble of information. It's all so much to take in O_o

Honestly, I'm not even sure that I'll be able to make it as an Illustrator. It's so competitive. The only reason why I ended up studying art as a career is because the Library Information Tech course at my college was full and I had to opt for Plan B. I love art, but I'm just not sure that I'm prolific and agressive enough.

Anyways, sorry to be ranting, and to be so negative. At the very least, I'm feeling more confident about my decision to be an Illustrator than I was last fall (at that time I was constantly panicking). I've also made some connections through my classes that I'm hoping will hold in the future, for the sake of support and finding jobs. My studies have also pushed me to improve significantly over the last year and undoubtedly will continue to ^^;

Please do keep us posted on how it's going Eso, and if you ever need help with anything, feel free to contact me. I'll be sure to update if I manage to find out any handy tips regarding surviving in the art industry. I wish you luck ^^